Electric heating means



Dec. 10, 1957 Filed Sept. 22, 1955 A. w. ECKBLAD 2,816,206

ELECTRIC HEATING MEANS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 HVVENTUR.

ALVl/V W E CABLAD AT-roR/vzv Dec. 10, 1957 A. w. ECKBLAD 2,316,206

ELECTRIC HEATING MEANS Filed Sept. 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ALVl/V M ECABLHD ZWMW A TTORNE v Dec. 10, 1957 A. w. ECKBLAD 2,816,206

ELECTRIC HEATING MEANS Filed Sept. 22, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 A T TORNE vUnited States Patent ()filice 2,816,205 Patented Dec. 10, 195' ELECTRICHEATING MEANS Alvin W. 'Eclrblad, Pittsburgh, Pa., assiguor to Edwin L.Wiegand Company, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication September 22, 1955,8erial No. 535,831

17 Claims. (Cl. .2193"/') My invention relates to electric heatingmeans, more particularly to a heater assembly for an electric range, andthe principal object of my invention is to provide new and improvedheating means of the character described.

The usual electric range has one or more cooking elements .at its topcooking surface and such elements usually comprise an adapter ringfitting within an opening in the stove top and having a portionoverlying such opening, a spider member and reflector member ,removablycarried by said adapter ring, and an electric resistance element carriedby the spider member.

As careful as the housewife may be, there are times when the "foodscooked :on the elements boil :over or are spilled onto :the resistanceelement, the spider member and/or :the reflector member, :and cleaningof the aforementioned parts has always presented a problem.

in the prior rant, certain heater elementassemblies have been detachahlyconnected so that the assembly may be lifted from :the stove,disassembled, and the individual parts thereafter :cleaned. The ordinaryhousewife was advere to such 'disassembly operation, and hinged elementswere provided whereby the housewife need only swing the heating unit:clear of its support for cleaning purposes.

However, the hinged elements of zthe ,prior art have been :relativelycostly to manufacture, particularly because-ofiassembly operations.Further, such hinged elements were .not well-suited :for easyreplacement of -.certain of the \component parts. My invention retains{the advantages ofrrhelhinged elements and-provides anieasily assembledconstruction :for manufacture and maintenance.

:In the :drawings accompanying this description and forming apart-ofthis application, there :are shown, for purposes :of illustration,several embodiments which my invention may assume, and in thesedrawings:

dligure 1 is a top plan 'VlCWiOf aiheater element:assembly, illustrating.an embodiment of my invention,

Figure ,2 is a sectional view corresponding generally to "the line 2-2ofFigure :1, a change in the relative :position of certain-parts beingshown in dottedlines,

Figure 3 is anzenlarged fragmentary sectional viewof certain :parts :ofthe construction shown in Figures .1 and 2,

Figure 4 vis :a view similar to Figure -3, but showing parts in adifferent'relati'on,

Figure 5 is a -view showing the parts ,of Figures 3 and 4 inrthe,process of.assembly .or disassembly,

Figure 6;is.afragmentaryperspective view .of a detail,

Figure 7 is .a viewsimilar to .Figure .3, but showing anothenembodimentof my invention,

.Figure 8 .is a .view similarto .Figure 7, but showing parts in-adifierent relation, and

Figures 9.and =l0 are fragmentaryperspective views of details.

In the :usual electric range construction, the range .top .llLisprovided with aplurality of apertures, such as aperture 11 shown inFigure 2. The heater assembly of my invention is adapted to he at leastin part disposed within the aperture 11, although it will be appreciatedthat such disposition is not essential to the invention.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 through 6 of the drawings, theembodiment 20f the invention therein disclosed comprises a heaterassembly having means for supporting it from the stove top 10. Aspresently disclosed, the support is in the form of an adapter member 12which has a cylindrical portion 14 disposed within the stove topaperture. The portion 14 is integral with a trim ring 15 which overliesthe stove top to close the aperture. The marginal portion of the trimring rests on the stove top and thus supports the heater assembly inposition on the stove top. It will be appreciated that the adaptermember may be formed with the usual adjusting spring clips (not shown)which extend from the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 14 andengage with the marginal surface of the stove top aperture whereby theadapter member may be assembled with stove tops having apertures ofvarying size.

An electric resistance heating unit is supported by the adapter member12 and comprises an electric range elemerit 16 of any suitable type .anda range element su port 17, also of any suitable type.

In the embodiments herein disclosed, 'the range element 16 is formed of-.a pair of convoluted sheathed tubular heating elements which areinterlaced to form generally plane heating surface. The terminal ends ofthe heating elements are elf-set downwardly from the plane heatingsurface and extend outwardly to a terminal connection block .18 ofdielectric material.

In the presently disclosed invention, each heating ele ment preferablycomprises a metal sheath, a resistance conductor within the sheath and,having terminal portions extending from respective .ends of ,thesheath, and compacted refractory material serving to electrically :in

vsulate the resistanceconductor and its terminals from the sheath and to{conduct heat generated by the resistance conductor .to the sheath. Thesheath may be originally circular in cross section ,and thereafter maybe pressed to a generally ,triangularpr heart-shaped cross section,

as seen :in the several .views, ;to adequately compact the refractorymaterial and :to ,provide a generally flat upper heating surface.

The range element support 17 is herein shown as a spider member and,referring particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, comprises acrosswisesheet metalarm 20 which spans and extends diametrically ofthecylindrical portion 14 of the adapter member, and a pairof sheetmetal arms 21, 21 which are riveted or otherwise secured to the arm .20andextend radially of the heater assembly.

The adapter memberLZ is .formed witha generally annular inturned ,lip 22upon @which restsa corresponding outturned lip of a reflector member 23which may be .of usual design. The arms .20 and .21, v21 of the spidermember 17 areadapted to rest on the outturnedlip of the reflectormember, or on theinturned lip.22 of the adapter member when a reflectormember is not used. This construction limits downward movement of thespider member and centers the spider member with respect to the adaptermember.

The upper edge margin of the arms 20 and 21, 21 are formed with upwardlyopening slots 24 to receive U- shapcd clips 25 which are spot-welded orotherwise secured to the heating elements. This construction securelyholds therange element 16 to the spider member 17 for movementtherewith.

Means are provided for detachably assembling the electric resistanceunit, comprisjingtherange element 16 and spider member 17, with thesupport provided, in this instance, by the adapter member 12. Broadly,such It assembly means are in part carried by the support and in partcarried by the electric resistance unit and comprise recess means andprojection means, the latter being receivable within the recess meansand having detachable locking engagement with surfaces defining therecess means. The recess means is preferably of keyhole formation andthe projection means are key-shaped and complementary to the recessmeans.

Resilient means are preferably provided to yieldably oppose unlocking ofthe assembly means and preferably the assembly means provides a hingejoint whereby the electric resistance unit may be swung relative to thesupport.

Referring particularly to the construction shown in Figures 1 through 6,the assembly means in this instance comprises a keyhole opening 26 (seeespecially Figure 6) in the cylindrical portion 14 of the adapter member12, the opening having a larger portion 27 through which the keyprojection means may be passed and a smaller portion 2% behind which thekey projection means may be shifted to effect interengagement of theparts. Surfaces defining the opposite sides of the smaller portion 28 ofthe opening 26 are bulged to form a pair of pockets 29 for receiving thekey projection means and for forming a hinge joint therewith.

The key projection means in the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1through 6 comprises an integral extension 34) of the arm 29, theextension being preferably of horn shape to provide for operatingclearances. A pin 31 is secured crosswise in the end of the extension3%} with end portions of the pin extending from opposite sides of theextension. A coil spring 32 is disposed 'over the extension 30 and isheld against disassembly therefrom by the pin 31.

The pin 31 is of a length to freely pass through the larger portion 27of the opening 26, but is longer than the width of the smaller portion28 of the opening so that it may be shifted behind the smaller portionwith its opposite ends seated in the pockets 29, 29 to form a hingejoint.

in Figure the heating unit is shown ready for assembly with the adaptermember 12 and preferably the unit is inclined, as shown, to provide forclearance of parts. The unit is then shifted to move the extension 30toward the keyhole opening an amount sufficient to pass the cross pin 31through the larger portion 27 of the open ing 26. it will be appreciatedthat the spring 32 will be compressed between the arm and the adaptermember 12.

When the cross pin 31 has been moved through the larger portion 27 ofthe opening 26 an amount sufficient to clear the upper ends of thepockets 2%, 29, the heating unit is shifted to move the cross pin 31downwardly and in line with the pockets 29, 29, and thereafter theheating unit may be released so that the coil spring 32 draws andyieldably holds the cross pin 31 in hinge relation within the pockets29, 29. The heating unit may be easily disassembled from the adaptermember by a reversal of the assembly steps.

It will be appreciated that the hinge joint hereinbefore described willpermit the heating unit to be swung into and out of position within theadapter member 12 and the parts are preferably proportioned so that theheating unit may be swung somewhat beyond the vertical, as shown inFigure 4, so that it will remain in upright positron. In such position,the spider and the underside of the heating elements are accessible forcleaning and, if required, the reflector member 23 may be easilyremoved, cleaned and replaced since it merely rests on the in turned lip22 of the adapter member 12.

Means are preferably provided to yieldably latch the heating unit inposition within the adapter member 12 and, in the presently disclosedembodiment, such means takes the form of a slight depression 33 in thecylindrical portion 14 of the adapter member, the depression providing ashoulder 34 engaging over that end of the arm 21) which is opposite theextension 30. The coil spring 32, in this instance, performs the doubleduty of holding the hinge parts against disassembly and holding thelatch parts in latched relation. By lifting upwardly on the heating unitnear the latch, the spring 32 will permit sufficient lateral shifting ofthe heating unit to disengage the latch parts and permit pivotingmovement of the heating unit. A slight downward pressure on the heatingunit near the latch will cause the end of arm 20 to ride over and behindthe shoulder 34 to effect latching engagement.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 7 through 9 is somewhatsimilar to the embodiment pre viously described and like parts have beengiven like reference numerals supplemented with the sufiix a.

As best seen in Figure 9, a flat spring 40 is secured to the exteriorsurface of the cylindrical portion 14a of the adapter member 12a. Theportion 14a may be formed with loops 41 to receive respective ends ofthe spring or' the latter may be secured in place in any other suitablemanner.

As seen in Figure 7, the spring 40 yieldably blockspassage of thehorn-shaped extension 30:: so that to assemble the electric resistanceunit with its support, the horn-shaped extension 30a is moved throughthe larger portion 27a of the opening 26a to press the spring 40 awayfrom the adapter portion an amount sufficient to clear the cross pin 31aand permit the latter to be shifted into the pockets 2% to complete theassembly.

The horn-shaped extension 300, in this embodiment, is preferably formedwith a flattened extremity 42 which engages with the flat spring 4ft (inposition of parts shown in Figure 8) to yieldably hold the resistanceunit assembly in elevated position.

Figure 10 shows a construction which may be embodied in any of theembodiments heretofore described. In this figure, the horn-shapedextension 30b has its extremity lanced to provide for the bending ofparts to form oppositely extending fingers 45, 46. The fingers areadapted to pass through communicating off-set openings in thecylindrical portion 14b of the adapter member 1212 and seat in pockets2% to form the hinge joint.

In view of the foregoing it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat I have accomplished at least the principal object of my inventionand it will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that theembodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified,without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that theinvention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specificallydescribed, hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosedembodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limitedthereto.

I claim:

1. A heater assembly for a stove, comprising an adapter member supportedby said stove, a spider member, and an electric range element superposedon said spider member and movable therewith, said adapter member havingkeyhole recess means in a wall thereof and said spider member havingcomplementary key projection means which may be passed through anenlarged portion of said recess means and then shifted behind a smallerportion of said recess means to interengagement with the adapter surfacemargining said smaller portion.

2. A heater assembly for a stove, comprising an adapter member supportedby said stove, a spider member, an electric range element superposed onsaid spider member and movable therewith, said adapter member havingkeyhole recess means in a wall thereof and said spider member havingcomplementary key projection means which may be passed through anenlarged portion of said rceess means and then shifted behind a smallerportion of said recess means to interengagement with the adapter surfacemargining said smaller portion, and resilient means yieldably opposingmovement of said key projection means from position behind said smallerrecess-portion. 3. A heater assembly for a stove, comprising an adaptermember supported by said stove, a spider member, and an electric rangeelement superposed on said spider member and movable therewith, saidadapter member having a keyhole opening in a wall thereof, thewall-surface at the smaller portion of said opening providing pocketmeans, and said spider member having a complementary key projectionmeans which may be passed through an enlarged portion of said openingand then shifted behind the smaller portion of said recess and intoseating engagement with said pocket means.

4. A heater assembly for a .stove, comprising an adapter membersupported by said stove, a heating element support and an electric rangeelement superposed on said support and movable therewith, said adaptermember having a keyhole opening in a wall thereof, the wall surface atthe smaller portion of said opening providing part of a hinge joint, andsaid support having a complementary key projection forming the otherpart of said hinge joint, said key projection being passable through anenlarged portion of said opening and then shifted into operativeengagement with the first named hinge part, whereby said support andsaid range element may be swung relative to said adapter member.

5 A heater assembly, comprising electric heating means, a support havinga keyhole opening in a wall thereof, the wall surface at the smallerportion of said opening providing part of a hinge joint, and saidheating means having a complementary key projection forming the otherpart of said hinge joint, said key projection being passable through anenlarged portion of said opening and then shifted into operativeengagement with the first named hinged part, whereby said heating meansmay be swung relative to said support.

6. A heater assembly, comprising electric heating means, a supporthaving a keyhole opening in a wall thereof, the wall surface at thesmaller portion of said opening providing part of a hinge joint, saidheating means having a complementary key projection forming the otherpart of said hinge joint, said key projection being passable through anenlarged portion of said opening and then shifted into operativeengagement with the first named hinge part to complete the hinge joint,whereby said heat ing means may be swung relative to said support, andresilient means yieldably opposing disassembly of the parts of saidhinge joint.

7. A heater assembly for an apertured stove top, comprising an adaptermember having a tubular portion disposable within the stove topaperture, a spider memher, an electric range element carried by saidspider member, said tubular portion having a keyhole opening, the wallsurface at the smaller portion of said opening providing part of a hingejoint, and said spider member having an arm formed with a complementarykey projection providing the other part of said hinge joint, said keyprojection being passable through the enlarged portion of said openingand then shifted into operative engagement with the first named hingepart to complete the hinge joint, whereby said range element and spidermember may be swung relative to said adapter member.

8. A heater assembly for an apertured stove top, comprising an adaptermember having a tubular portion disposable within the stove topaperture, a spider member having an arm adapted to extend crosswise andspan said tubular portion, an electric range element carried by saidspider member, said tubular portion having a keyhole opening, the wallsurface at the smaller portion of said opening providing part of a hingejoint, one end of said crosswise arm having a complementary keyprojection forming the other part of said hinge joint, said keyprojection being passable through the enlarged portion of said openingand then shifted into operative engagement with the first named hingepart to complete the hinge 6 joint, whereby said range element andspider member may be swung relative to said adapter member from positioncrosswise of said tubular portion to an inclined position, the other endof said crosswise arm having latching engagement with an adjacent partof said tubular portion when said arm spans said tubular portion, andresilient means yieldably opposing disassembly of the latchingengagement of said arm with said tubular portion.

9. A heater assembly for an apertured stove top, comprising an adaptermember having a tubular portion disposable within the stove topaperture, a spider member, an electric range element carried by saidspider memher, said tubular portion having a keyhole opening, the wallsurface at the smaller portion of said opening providing pockets onopposite sides of said smaller portion, and said spider member having anarm provided with a cross pin, the latter being passable through theenlarged portion of said opening and the arm then shifted to depositopposite end portions of said cross pin into said pockets to form ahinge joint whereby said range element and spider member may be swungrelative to said adapter member.

10. A heater assembly, comprising electric heating means, a supporthaving a keyhole opening in a wall thereof, the wall surface at thesmaller portion of said opening providing part of a hinge joint, a flatspring backing said opening, and said heating means having acomplementary key projection forming the other part of said hinge joint,said key projection being passable through an enlarged portion of saidopening and against said flat spring and then shifted into operativeengagement with the first named hinge part to complete the hinge joint,whereby said heating means may be swung relative to said support, saidkey projection having a flattened portion cooperating with said fiatspring to yieldably hold said heating means in a predetermined position.

11. A heater assembly for an apertured stove panel, comprising anadapter ring supported by said panel and having a tubular portionextending at least partially into said panel aperture, said portionhaving an opening therein, a wall surface defining said opening beinginwardly embossed to form a seat, an electric range element supported bysaid adapter ring and in heating relation being disposed generallyfiat-wise within the compass of said ring, said element having alaterally extending finger portion which is passable through the openingof said tubular portion from the inner side of said adaptor ringandshifted relative to the wall surface of said tubular portion toseating relation within said seat to form a hinge joint with said seatand thereby provide for pivoting movement of said range element withrespect to said adaptor ring.

12. The construction of claim 11 wherein spring means are provided forholding said range element in a pivoted position.

13. heater assembly for an apertured stove panel, comprising an adapterring supported by said panel and having a portion extending downwardlyinto said panel aperture, said ring portion having an openingtherethrough and providing a seat adjacent to said opening, an electricheating element supported on said adaptor ring and normally disposed inhorizontal heating position within the compass of said ring, saidheating element having a finger member extending through said opening, atransverse nin carried by said finger member and closely received withinsaid seat and held by the latter against vertical movement, said pin andseat forming a horizontal pivotal mounting about which said heatingelement may be swung from its horizontal heating position to anon-heating position.

14. heater assembly for an apertured stove panel comprising an adaptorring supported by said panel and having a portion extending into saidpanel aperture, said ring portion having an opening therethrough, anelectric heating element supported by said adapter ring and normallydisposed in horizontal heating position Within the 7 compass of saidadapter ring, said heating element having a finger member extendingoutwardly through said opening and having a flat on its terminal end, atransverse pin carried by said ringer member and bearing against theouter surface of said ring portion to form therewith a horizontalpivotal mounting about which said heating element may be swung from itshorizontal heating position to a nonheating position, and a fiat springbearing against said terminal end and engaging said flat when saidheating element is swung to its non-heating position to releasably holdthe latter in such position.

15. A heater assembly for an apertured stove panel comprising an adapterring supported by a panel surface adjacent to said panel aperture, anelongated sheathed electric heating element convoluted to provide agenerally plane heating surface normally disposed in horizontal heatingposition within the compass of said adapter ring, sup port means securedto and underlying said heating element and supported by said adapterring for in turn supporting said heating element in its normal h atingposition, said support means having a portion extending beyond theoutermost convolution of said heating element, and a transverse pinmember carried by said support means, said pin member and said adapterring having interengaging portions for holding said pin member againstvertical movement and providing a horizontal pivotal mounting aboutwhich said support means and its connected heating element may be swungfrom its normal heating position to a non-heating position.

16. A heater assembly for an apertured stove panel, comprising anadapter ring supported by said panel and having a tubular portionextending downwardly into said panel aperture, said tubular portionhaving an opening therethrough and providing a seat adjacent to saidopening, a spider member comprising a plurality of flat connected arms,a convoluted sheathed heating element carried by said spider, saidelement being normally supported by said spider member in horizontalheating position Within the compass of said tubular ring portion, one ofsaid spider arms extending outwardly through the opening in said tubularportion beyond the outer surface thereof, and a pin member carried byand extending transversely of the outer end of said one spider arm andclosely received within said seat and held by the latter againstvertical movement, said pin member and said seat forming a horizontalpivotal mounting about which said spider member and its supportedheating element may be swung from its said normal horizontal heatingposition.

17. The construction according to claim 16 wherein the lower terminalmargin of said tubular portion is formed with an inturned lip, a drippan having a peripheral edge portion resting on the upper surface ofsaid lip and a central portion projecting downwardly through said lowerterminal margin, said spider arms bearing against the upper surface ofsaid peripheral edge portion to support said heating element in itsnormal horizontal heating position, said drip pan being removable fromassembled relation with said adapter ring when said spider member andits supported heating element have been swung up- Wardly from saidheating position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,998,330 Nicholson et a1. Apr. 16, 1935 2,548,183 Walton Apr. 10, 19512,633,524 Smith Mar. 31, 1953

